Serial link output stage differential amplifier and method

ABSTRACT

Protection for the transmission of higher amplitude outputs required of differential amplifiers formed by thin oxide transistors with limited maximum voltage tolerance used where compliance with communication protocol standards requires handling voltages which may, in transition, exceed desirable levels is provided by limiting the voltage across any two device terminals under power down conditions.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority from,application Ser. No. 11/531,714 filed Sep. 14, 2006 and now U.S. Pat.No. 7,391,266 issued Jun. 24, 2008.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a semiconductor differential amplifier and amethod of protecting the amplifier against undesirable effects oftransitional power events.

Integrated circuits based on semiconductor manufacturing process arewell known. Such devices are understood to be formed by providing asuitable base and then forming electrical circuit components on thesubstrate. Such devices are understood to be formed with many suchcomponents on a single substrate, with such components functioning astransistors, resistors and other elements. Input/output (I/O)controllers, as one example only, are so formed and have components ofthe types described formed on the substrates supporting the components.This technology is well known and needs no further description here.

Many such integrated circuit devices or chips use as one type ofcomponent a differential amplifier. Differential amplifiers have beenlong recognized in the art, to the extent that there exist entire textsdevoted to the characteristics and design of such amplifiers and theirinclusion in large scale integrated circuits. The interested reader isreferred to such texts for a deeper understanding of the invention hereto be described.

Differential amplifiers function due to the imposition of voltages thereacross, and serve, among other purposes, to amplify the differencesbetween two input voltages (hence the name) and to remove noiseotherwise present in signals by operating in so-called common mode. Onedifficulty encountered with integrated circuits formed by the use ofcertain technologies is that voltages may be applied across adifferential amplifier which result in either signal distortion beyondacceptable limits or damage to the components forming the amplifier.This is particularly true where an Integrated Circuit (IC) chip is madeby a technology which is only capable of offering thin oxide transistorswith limited maximum voltage tolerance and the element is used in acircumstance where compliance with communication protocol standardsrequires handling voltages which may, in transition, exceed desirablelevels. Even if thick oxide devices are available in a given technology,and might be less susceptible to voltage problems, those devices areoften incapable of the speed necessary to support the applications inquestion.

As device geometries shrink, the maximum supported power supply voltagealso decreases. While this allows digital technology to have a highermaximum operating speed, IC I/O must continue to meet minimum outputamplitude as dictated by communication standards. Achieving large outputamplitudes often requires higher power supply voltages which, whenimposed across a minimum geometry device, impair longevity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the foregoing in mind, it is one purpose of this invention toprovide a protection for the transmission of higher amplitude outputsrequired of differential amplifiers in the contexts described. Inrealizing this purpose, the voltage across any two device terminals islimited under power down conditions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Some of the purposes of the invention having been stated, others willappear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which the differential amplifier circuit ofthis invention is shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

While the present invention will be described more fully hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferredembodiment of the present invention is shown, it is to be understood atthe outset of the description which follows that persons of skill in theappropriate arts may modify the invention here described while stillachieving the favorable results of the invention. Accordingly, thedescription which follows is to be understood as being a broad, teachingdisclosure directed to persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and notas limiting upon the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1. The differential amplifier of this invention isthere shown. The elements shown are formed on a substrate (not shown) asis conventional and well known in semiconductor manufacturing. It is thepresence of this general knowledge on which reliance is placed for theabsence of a specific illustration of the substrate.

The differential amplifier has a plurality of transistors, conductivetraces coupling those transistors, and resistors. A differential pair oftransistors, T₀ and T₁, serve as points for input of voltage signalsinto the amplifier, buffering an input differential voltage, inputpositive (VP) and input negative (VN). A bias V_(mid) is controllablyapplied through a voltage buffer which forms a biasing circuit.

The bias applied is controlled by a coupling circuit including atransistor T2 operatively connected to the differential pair and thebiasing circuit. The coupling circuit recognizes a powering down eventfor the differential amplifier circuit and a biasing voltage is appliedfrom the biasing circuit to the differential amplifier circuit duringthe recognized powering down event, the biasing voltage protecting thedifferential amplifier circuit against degradation otherwise possibledue to voltages imposed during the powering down event.

More particularly, and referring to element T₀ in the Figure, thedrain-source voltage (V_(ds)=V_(on)−V_(src)), drain-gate voltage(V_(dg)=V_(on)−V_(p)) and drain-body voltage (V_(db)=V_(on)−V_(src)) canall become VTT−0 volts if the node V_(src) isn't set by a voltage bufferand goes to zero volts. This would be an issue when VTT is greater thanthe voltage allowed for the T₀ element, which can occur in a high swingdriver in recent CMOS technologies. The presence of the coupling circuitand biasing circuit of this invention protects against the degradationof the semiconductor elements which would occur where this voltagedifference is imposed during a power down sequence.

In particular, the apparatus of this invention has a differentialamplifier circuit as described and illustrated. Connected to theamplifier circuit are a biasing circuit and a coupling circuit. Thecoupling circuit recognizes a powering down event for the differentialamplifier and a biasing voltage from the biasing circuit is applied tothe differential amplifier circuit during the recognized powering downevent, the biasing voltage protecting the differential amplifier circuitagainst degradation otherwise possible due to voltages imposed duringthe powering down event. During a powering down event, the currentflowing though the resistors Ro and R1 goes to zero. Thus, there is novoltage drop across the resistors and voltage Vop=Von=Vtt absent theintervention of this invention.

The biasing voltage is applied through a buffer, and may be derived in anumber of differing ways. What is shown is exemplary only, as it isrecognized and contemplated that the biasing voltage can be derived froma number of sources and through a number of pathways other than fromV_(tt) and applied other than through a buffer circuit precisely asshown. The invention here is the intervention rather than the specificsof derivation of the biasing voltage.

Expressed as a method, the present invention contemplates employing adifferential amplifier circuit in an environment where a minimum outputamplitude must be met for compliance with a communication protocol andprotecting the differential amplifier circuit from degradation otherwisepossibly occurring by coupling a biasing circuit to the differentialamplifier circuit in association with a coupling circuit whichrecognizes a powering down event for the differential amplifier circuitwherein a biasing voltage from the biasing circuit is applied to thedifferential amplifier circuit during the recognized powering downevent, the biasing voltage protecting the differential amplifier circuitagainst degradation otherwise possible due to voltages imposed duringthe powering down event.

In the drawings and specifications there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are used, thedescription thus given uses terminology in a generic and descriptivesense only and not for purposes of limitation.

1. Apparatus comprising: a differential amplifier circuit having acoupled pair of field effect transistor semiconductor devices; a biasingcircuit; and a coupling circuit operatively connected to saiddifferential amplifier circuit and said biasing circuit and having afield effect transistor semiconductor device; said coupling circuitfield effect transistor semiconductor device being coupled with thesource and body terminals of said coupled pair of field effecttransistor semiconductor devices; said coupling circuit recognizing apowering down event for said differential amplifier circuit wherein abiasing voltage is applied from said biasing circuit to saiddifferential amplifier circuit during the recognized powering downevent, the biasing voltage protecting the differential amplifier circuitagainst degradation otherwise possible due to voltages imposed duringthe powering down event.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saiddifferential amplifier comprises a coupled pair of field effecttransistor semiconductor devices.
 3. Apparatus comprising: adifferential amplifier circuit; a biasing circuit; a coupling circuitoperatively connected to said differential amplifier circuit and saidbiasing circuit; said coupling circuit recognizing a powering down eventfor said differential amplifier circuit wherein a biasing voltage isapplied from said biasing circuit to said differential amplifier circuitduring the recognized powering down event, the biasing voltageprotecting the differential amplifier circuit against degradationotherwise possible due to voltages imposed during the powering downevent.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said differentialamplifier comprises a coupled pair of field effect transistorsemiconductor devices.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein saiddifferential amplifier comprises a coupled pair of complementary metaloxide field effect transistor semiconductor devices.
 6. Apparatusaccording to claim 3 wherein said coupling circuit comprises a fieldeffect transistor semiconductor device.
 7. Apparatus according to claim6 wherein said coupling circuit field effect transistor semiconductordevice is coupled with the source and gate terminals of a coupled pairof field effect transistor semiconductor devices.